About Us

Our Story

Life-changing events take different forms. That was the case for Kathleen Tullie, Founder and Executive Director of BOKS, who after 18 years in the corporate real estate world, decided she wanted to spend her time working on something that makes a difference.

Kathleen had a desire to engage the community and leave a lasting positive impact on children. Being an athlete, she knew exercise made her feel good and more focused, but it wasn’t until reading the book Spark by Dr. John Ratey of Harvard Medical School that she had evidence to support her feeling. Dr. Ratey laid out a compelling argument for the positive correlation between exercise, academic performance and behavior issues. A sedentary life and poor eating habits can lower kids’ performance in the classroom and start a cycle of health problems later in life. Studies show that kids who exercise see significant boosts in intelligence-test scores and core subjects at school, compared to their inactive peers.*

It was then that Kathleen’s desire and new-found evidence took form as she became an outspoken proponent of physical activity for children. Her idea, to bring “Fit Kidz Get Up & Go,” now BOKS, to her children’s school, was born.

Since that first morning, a lot has happened. Not only are moms involved as trainers and volunteers, but so are dads, Physical Education teachers, educators and other interested parties who are all helping to run the program. Kathleen states unequivocally that the reason for the program’s success is a perfect combination of passion from parents, educators and school staff that have the motivation to make a difference in children’s lives.

Kathleen and her “Mom team,” Cheri Levitz and Jen Lawrence, created a nonprofit corporation and initially approached Reebok International Ltd. for a t-shirt sponsorship. They had no idea how closely aligned Reebok’s goals were with their own. From that conversation grew a collective mission to provide opportunities and access for all children, regardless of economic status, to have healthy bodies and minds, which also helps them find success in the classroom.